THE GRAPE 



The geographical distribution of the grape is a wide one, 

 and includes almost all countries coming within the tropical 

 and temperate zones. It finds its most vigorous development 

 in the warmer sections of the temperate areas, enjoying its 

 greatest luxuriance at a point where the two zones meet, if 

 such an experssion be allowable. 



In California, and especially in the San Joaquin Valley, it 

 finds ideal conditions, and in Fresno County, the raisin, table 

 and wine sort constitute our leading industry, easily leading 

 all others in money value and commercial importance. 



LAYING OUT A VINEYARD 



First establish your base lines. It is best to have this 

 done with a transit, particularly if there are no established 

 regular subdivision lines to work from. If the base lines 

 are not at right angles, the rows will not be straight, and 

 nothing is more unsightly. Add to this the difficulty of 

 plowing and cultivating, and the advantages of straight rows 

 will be readily understood. For planting, use a steel woven 

 No. 19 galvanized wire, dividing same up into sections as 

 recommended under the heading "Methods of Planting" on 

 page 8. 



The chain in general use by vineyardists is made of No. 10 

 galvanized wire with three-inch rings at each end, and at 

 equidistant points on the chain a piece of fine wire is wrapped 

 and soldered into place. It is necessary, of course, to change 

 the markers to other points for planting at greater 

 or less distances. It is best to have the wire the width 

 of the check, the last link coming flush with the stake 

 indicating the roadway. These roads should be at intervals 

 of twenty-four rows for a wine and table vineyard and 

 thirty rows for a raisin vineyard. Start at one corner of the 

 field with the chain, which should have three-inch rings at 

 each end for inserting the iron stakes, which should be made 

 of one-half by two-inch iron, two and one-half feet long and 

 drawn down to a point at one end. The stakes which are to 

 be used as markers may be split out of redwood, or any 

 other material for that matter, and at least six inches of 

 one end dipped into a bucket of whitewash, so that the line 

 of the base rows may be readily seen. 



Having set the stakes along the outside line at the dis- 

 tance apart the vines are to be planted, start at the same 

 end of the field again and set another line of stakes parallel 

 with the first line and the length of the chain distant from 

 the outside line. Proceed in this manner until the entire 

 field is laid out in checks. With this preliminary work done, 

 and having exercised care in the measurements to have the 

 base lines parallel and the stakes in each block opposite 

 each other, no difficulty will be experienced when planting 

 commences to have the vines line up. 



DISTANCE TO PLANT 



This always gives rise to much discussion, and opinions 

 vary so that the planter is often In a quandary as to what 

 course to pursue. The prevailing practice is to plant wine 

 grapes 8x8 feet, leaving out the twenty-fifth row for avenue. 

 For wine and table grapes the avenues should not be farther 

 apart than this. As it is necessary to carry out the grapes 

 in lug-boxes to the avenue, the pickers (if the work of har- 

 vesting is done by contract) demand more per ton for the 

 picking than where the checks are twenty-four vines wide. 

 For types of raisin grapes which are to be short pruned 

 and headed low, and where the drying is to be done on trays 

 in the vineyard, any of the following distances are satis- 

 factory: 8x8, 7x10, 6x12 feet, always leaving the wide rows 

 east and west, so the trays shall get the full benefit of the 

 sun's rays. In this case the checks may be thirty rows 

 wide. For staked vines of raisin grapes, where the drying 

 Is to be carried on in the vineyard, 6x12 feet is undoubtedly 

 the most economical distance to plant, as picking is much 

 facilitated, the trays get the full benefit of the sun, and the 

 raisins cure quickly, which is not the case where vines art 

 closer together. Table grapes should not be planted closer 

 than 8x10 feet, with the wide rows north and south. The 

 grapes then have more exposure to the sun and mature more 

 uniformly. This rule applies more particularly to the varie- 

 ties which ripen rather late, like Cornichon, Emperor. Gros 

 Colman, Black Morocco, etc. 



PREPARING FOR PLANTING 



All rootlets, excepting those starting from the 

 base of the vines, should be cut off. Next shorten 

 in all the roots radiating from the base of the 

 cutting from two to three inches. 



Then prune the top of the vine, leaving 

 only one spur with from one to three buds. 

 The vines should be pruned a day or so in ad- 

 vance of the planting, and the work should 



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